Who’s got the best handle?
Where does A.I. rank with his handle?The other day we were watching another one of the dozens of streetball mixtapes that get sent to our office on the regular. Naturally, that started a debate over handles, which turned into a debate over who had the best handles in the NBA. A little while later we’d come up with a ranking of the Top 10 NBA players with the sickest handle. In reverse order…
10. Dwyane Wade
Before you start trippin’ on Flash’s ranking, let us explain. Wade is lightning quick so he doesn’t have to rely on his handle as much as some of the other guys you’ll see on this list. With that said, D-Wade’s cross is murderous. Ask some of his victims like Eric Snow or Kirk Snyder. In last year’s Finals, everyone knew D-Wade was going to the cup and still no one on the Mavs could stop him. And remember, Flash has won the All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge in back-to-back years.
9. Baron Davis
Baron mixes his flashy playground dribbling skills with his UCLA-taught fundamentals to make his opposition look bad. Boom Dizzle is known for making defenders looks stupid by mixing them up and then pulling back for a long J. He’s done it at Rucker Park and under the League lights.
8. Kobe Bryant
The Mamba doesn’t have to rely on his handle to get to the rack, and his current barrage on the NBA is proof of that. Still, KB24 has the moves to turn the Staples Center into an AND 1 Mix tape open run.
7. Jamal Crawford
Jamal’s handles are probably the most underrated in the entire League. We get to watch him in person regularly at MSG, and our two Seattle-ites, Austin and Naomi, have more than a few stories of JC breaking ankles in high school. Don’t believe us? YouTube him.
6. Rafer Alston
In the world of playground ball, Skip is the modern-day G.O.D. when it comes to handling the rock. He sparked the streetball explosion of a few years ago. One reason it took him a minute to catch on in the League is that he needed to tone down on the tricks in an organized run, but he still breaks it out every now and then. But he’ll always be remembered for his outdoor moves than what he does inside.
5. Jason Kidd
His career highlight reel is full of sick alleys and incredible passes, but you need to have crazy ball control to dish the rock like J-Kidd. It’s said he runs faster with the ball than without it.
4. Stephon Marbury
You might have forgotten about Starbury in recent years, but Steph pretty much does what he wants to do with the pill. Marbury seems to use his off hand (left) better than his strong one. His crossover isn’t too shabby either.
3. Chris Paul
When we wanted to run a ball-handling workout routine in Dime #30, we chose Chris Paul for a reason. He’s not overly flashy, but coldly efficient. He rarely makes a mistake and keeps the ball on a string.
2. Allen Iverson
The Answer redefined the crossover, bringing what Tim Hardaway patented to the new-school. When he served His Airness with the back-to-back cross, Iverson had every kid across America practicing the must-have move in their arsenal. Eleven years later, he’s still keeping defenders on their heels.
1. Steve Nash
Nash isn’t the quickest guy out there, and doesn’t have a true playground-style handle, but he does have that ball on a string. Nash knows where and when to put the ball in a certain place, and his passes are almost like extended dribbles. He is equally effective with his left hand as he is with his right. Stevie MVP is damn near flawless with the rock. He’s even got handles with his feet.
Honorable Mention:
Steve Francis, Jason Williams, Tony Parker, Randy Foye, and Sebastian Telfair.
March 29th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
alex says:
How can yall forget about steve francis?
I know his overall game has slipped in recent years but the man can still can break ankles anytime he get the ball!
March 29th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
alex says:
my bad, I didn’t see the honorable mentions…
March 29th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
kevin says:
yall gotta have steve francis in there his handle is vicious. also honorable mention flip murray.
March 29th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Dank says:
Steve Nash? is this an april fool’s joke just a couple days early? common guys, fix this list before i lose all respect for the site and the mag. Steve Nash is the least deserving basketball player ever. Oh and by the way, he’s averaging 3.88 turnovers a game, which would make him 3rd on TOs behind D-Wade and AI who havent played as many games as Nash. so, check your list, take Nash out, and come back at me when you have something relevant.
March 29th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Krayzie says:
U gotta put J-Will in the top 10, he can cross anyone and get to the rack
March 29th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Andy Buckets says:
Yo Dank,
Steve Nash’s handle isn’t flashy but it is SUPER effective. A.I. and D. Wade are both shooting guards. If you look at the Suns’ offense then you’d see he has the ball the majority of the time. He’s gonna turn the ball over a little.
How is he the least deserving bball player?!?! You’d be smoking rocks if you wouldn’t take him as your pg.
March 29th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Lucky Lester says:
Dank needs to take a basketball IQ test… Something about Steve’s Assist to Turnover ratio makes Mary Jane look ridiculous here. Steve might not have the flashy crossover or sprinter’s speed, but his time from dribble to pass is nonexistent… he doesn’t have to think. His handle, the one he has on the league, is unparralleled. His knowledge of what the ball can and can’t do make at least stakes his claim at #1 on this list. And I know he’s had a tough year, but have you seen Luke Ridnour handle the rock. Kid holds the ball tight, and never gets it taken from him. His vision is nice. Now if here were only 6 inches taller.
March 29th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Doug says:
Man, you guys played J-thrill, that dude still could tear people up on the and 1 tour…you think he cracks on ol’ GP in the locker room about that time he left Gary in the dust when he was on Seattle?
March 29th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Mace says:
Shouldn’t Iverson be disqualified based on the fact that he carries the ball as if it were a purse?
March 29th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Dank says:
No. i wouldn’t take Nash as my starting PG. Yes, he has perhaps the greatest court vision since Magic, and he’s a bigger factor than any PG that has come before him. But, I’m all for athletic players, defensive players, and if I had to choose a PG who is gonna get me the boards and assists I need as well as lock down the opposing Guard, that man is going to be J-Kidd. I dont even like him, but he gets the damn job done. He single-handledly took his team to the finals twice. Watch Nash and the Suns choke come playoff time. Defense wins games, i dont care how many points you put up on the scoreboard.
March 29th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
MIKE HUNT says:
Ridiculous list,best handle = best pg ?? thats the only way nash is ranked no 1
Rafer,steph and baron are head and shoulders above the others in terms of pure ballhandling ability
March 29th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Alex says:
I think, The Answer has more handles than Nash. Nash is a good passer, but as a dribbler AI is better. I don’t think nash has ever made anyone fall, like AI has.
March 29th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Half Crazy Girl says:
i think steve nash is a lot underestimated. it’s not because a player doesn’t make the show like AI that he’s weaker…
i like Paul. he’s really good, really efficient. he’s the type of player that u don’t really catch the presence on the floor but at the end of the game. really has a good stat line! i think he deserved at least to be co-MVP of rookie challenge. he almost got a triple-double… i don’t say David Lee don’t deserved it but it’s easy to post a 100% game when it’s all dunks with no opposition…
i like Skip 2 my Loo when he’s focus, he can be reaaaaaaally good on the floor.
and Kobe, he’s Kobe. he’s the best. i hope he’s gonna get the MVP title one day…
March 29th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Chaos Rob says:
All the guys bring different things to the table but we are going on ballhandling and effiency. we are not going with overall abilities. steve nash if you ever look at him never really loses his handle on the rock. NEVER! i think j-kidd should move up because he is the same way. amazing ball control even with the fact that he may be a step slower. now i will say i dont get to see JC often enough to know so i learned something today.
March 29th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
ftm says:
the only disagreement i have with the list is that neither steve francis or jason williams are ranked while kobe and d wade are. if those four were swapped then the list would be straight. as soon as i saw AI at 2 i knew number 1 better have been steve nash. what about mike bibby…
March 29th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Monsoon says:
yall def had it right re: Jamal Crawford’s handles
I think right now..sickest handles in the L
his problem is he doesn’t drive after he breaks ankles..settles for the jumpshot..but still his crossover (right now) quicker that anyone else’s
March 29th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Zach says:
I know he’s injured all the time but how can you guys forget about Jamaal “Mel Mel The Abuser” Tinsley.
March 30th, 2007 at 12:19 am
J.D. says:
You forgot T-Mac, and Jamaal Tinsley could have made the list too
March 30th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Austin says:
“i think he deserved at least to be co-MVP of rookie challenge. he almost got a triple-double… i don’t say David Lee don’t deserved it but it’s easy to post a 100% game when it’s all dunks with no opposition…”
Agree with you there about Chris Paul. He was the reason the Sophomores beat the Rookies by 164 points and stole their heart. After Deron Williams dominated the first few minutes, CP3 came in and it was steal-alley oop-dunk the rest of the game.
March 30th, 2007 at 3:02 am
rob says:
yall forgot about jannero pargo
March 30th, 2007 at 4:49 am
Blake says:
I know he ain’t in the league no more, but since I had this discussion with my boys today, I gotta just throw out the name God Shamgod. Don’t hate
March 30th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Kudabeen says:
NO TJ FORD!!! MADNESS!
March 30th, 2007 at 11:00 am
travis says:
J-Will… youtube the crossover that he did on Gary Payton in his rookie year. HE FROZE THE GOLVE! (when the glove still had game)
March 30th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Amar says:
greg ostertag . . . (looks around, slinks away . . .)
March 30th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Jason says:
Steve Nash! Are you kidding me there is no way that Rafer and white chocolate aren’t 1 and 2…I mean have you seen the and 1 tapes?!
March 30th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Derrick says:
You really can’t respect Jamaal or Steph without watching them play live at the Garden. Jamaal rocks cats to sleep before breaking them down. Steph is more of a quick dribble move and straight to the hoop type of cat. He doesn’t give cats a killer cross but more of a subtle one and blows by you to the hoop where he usually finishes.
The best I’ve seen though is Rafer. He has every kind of dribble move in his arsenal. Plus he’s just so smooth with it. Like with AI, you know it’s coming. Skip catches people off guard with his.
Nash and Kidd. They are good playmakers, not ball handlers…there’s a difference
March 30th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Michael Steenstra says:
Where the hell is Kelvin Cato?
March 30th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
aleks says:
What about G. Arenas? He can cross anyone in the league. He is the fastest player in the NBA.
March 30th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Paul says:
A lot of the comments seem to focus on the much feared cross over. I think a good hadler is someone who pretty much puts the ball where he wants to (out of reach of the defender)while having very good control. This includes changing direction while on the move very quickly. This said, J Kidd is the my best handler.
March 30th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Bailey says:
First of all, I’m a huge Laker fan, but Kobe dribbles it off his knee/ankle/foot far too often to make any kind of handles list at all.
March 30th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
GC says:
steve nash is easily number one on this list. he used to practice dribbling with a tennis ball in college. even with a tennis ball he is better than half the players on this list.
i think a lot of people are confusing flashy with good. steve nash’s turnovers usually comes from a forced pass not a misdribble so whoever brought up his turnovers obviously doesn’t watch the games.
it’s the same court vision and anticipation that allows him to throw the passes that he does that helps him see double teams. and make it easier for him to protect his dribble. allen iverson on the other hand overdribbles because of that lack of vision.
if there was a stat for turnovers during dribbling… for someone who handles the rock as much as nash does, i bet he would still be one of the best players on that list.
a dramatic dribble is not necessarily a better dribble. steve nash is the best. hands down.
March 30th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
King John says:
man how can nash me number 1 and how can you leave off manu ginobili? that dude get in the paint with his crossover everytime he touches the ball. here is the real top ten list.
10.D wade
9.Tracey McGrady
8.Manu Ginobili
7.Steve Nash
6.Jay Kidd
5.Steve Francis
4.B Diddy
3.Jason Williams
2.Allen Iverson
1.skip to my lou “The Point God”
March 30th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
knoc says:
yea gotta have ‘the franchise’ in there.
showcases freaky handles when hes actually healthy and playing
March 30th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
yoda says:
if you talking about crossover, remeber penny hardaway in his orlando days. he could break everyone
March 31st, 2007 at 1:57 am
Chris says:
where’s T-Mac?????? Who can stop him in the league????? Not even Bruce Bowen…..
March 31st, 2007 at 9:22 am
Half Crazy Girl says:
if u come back in the days… i’d say Pistle Pete is #1 no doubt about it. he did so much crazy things with the ball… but that’s not the point. we’re talking about active players and YES Steve Nash is #1 handler right now!!!
March 31st, 2007 at 12:51 pm
jdizzle says:
Yea, cats sleep on JC. I saw him at the Pro-Am in Chicago a few years back man he and the Matrix were goin AT it. And B-Diddy is so serious i saw him put a spin move on Greg Anthony somethin ugly he actually left him in his defensive stance. He should be ranked much higher than 9.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Austin Burton says:
When we re-do this list in 2009, Randy Foye will have bumped one of the Top 10.
April 1st, 2007 at 10:33 am
student of the game says:
I think that fact that the two video clips used for the supposed number one on this list says alot. The first clip shows his 21 assist game yet everyone knows that an assist, like sex, requires two people. The second shows his football skills – as far removed from BALL HANDLING as you could be. Yet everyone else on this list has almost definitve moments that show vintage aspects of their game, e.g Iverson vs Jordan/A.Daniels or Stephon vs Y.Ming. Steve Nash does not deserve the number one spot on any “best handle” list.
April 1st, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Austin Burton says:
Handle isn’t just crossovers; it’s handling the basketball. If I had a ball that was worth $1 million and I needed one person to take it through a war zone and not get it ripped, I’m probably taking Steve Nash. And if he’s not the first pick, he’s in my Top 3 at least.
April 12th, 2007 at 10:14 am
maxime says:
10.jason kidd
9.dwyane wade
8.steve nash
7.steve francis
6.tj ford
5.stephon marbury
4.chris paul
3.baron davis
2.rafer alston
1.allen iverson
August 11th, 2007 at 2:00 am
C-ralez says:
anyone who plays basketball knows that in order to be a great point guard you haveto have a serious handle. thats why the best ball handlers are point guards, b/c they dribble so well they are able to run an offense, direct a tempo, set up teammates, and create passing lanes. so w i don’t disagree with nash making the list. he’s currently the best point in the nba, and the best ball handlers simply use position to get past their opponents, not fancy dribbling moves.ask any pro b-ball playerand he’ll tell you the simple fundamental moves are the most efficient and stev nash, and mj are perfect examples
March 8th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
timenow403 says:
AI has god the best crossover, D-Wade is an ankle twister. What happened to the mention of D-Will, Tony Parker , and Chris Paul?
April 1st, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Andy says:
Though steve Nash is not the best point guard or best passer in the nba now, he is still the best ball handler, until Chris paul improves in a few years…